Adaptor for an electrical power distributor track

ABSTRACT

An adaptor, for an electrical power distributor track, is arranged so that it can be fitted into the open channel of the track in a first position, and can then be rotated to a second position in which spring-loaded contact means make contact with electrical power lines. Holding elements are provided on the adaptor which locate in recesses provided in the track to lock the adaptor into place.

United States Patent Hesse Nov. 19, 1974 ADAPTOR FOR AN ELECTRICAL POWERDISTRIBUTOR TRACK Kurt Hesse, Waterfohr 38, 492 Lemgo, Germany Filed:Mar. 26, 1973 Appl. No.: 344,664

Inventor:

Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 1, 1972 Germany 2216145 US. Cl.191/45 R, 339/21 R, 191/12 R, 200/50 R Int. Cl. B601 5/00, HOlr 9/00Field of Search 200/50 R, 50 B, 51.05, ZOO/51.06; 339/21 R, 22 B;191/45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 22, 23, 25, 29, 30

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1970 Neumann 339/21 Rr3,737,834 6/1973 Contratto 339/21 R Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr.Assistant ExaminerD. W. Keen Attorney, Agent, or FirmElliott l. Pollock[57] ABSTRACT An adaptor, for an electrical power distributor track, isarranged so that it can be fitted into the open channel of the track ina first position, and can then be rotated to a second position in whichspring-loaded contact means make contact with electrical power lines.Holding elements are provided on the adaptor which locate in recessesprovided in the track to lock the adaptor into place.

17 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENR, TIZV I 93374 SHEET 02 0F 12PATENIL 13V 1 91974 snm 12 or 12 ADAPTOR FOR AN ELECTRICAL POWERDISTRIBUTOR TRACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Known adaptors, for use inconjunction with electrical power distribution tracks of known type,conventionally employ two blade contacts which make contact respectivelywith two power lines and with a grounding line. Such arrangements arenot suitable for a multicircuit system. Adaptors are also known,however, for multi-circuit systems, which include switching meanswherein different switch positions provide connection with differentpower lines. The switching means normally provides for selectivecontact, e.g., it may comprise a series of cams on a rotatable shaft.This type of adaptor permits rapid and easy selection, but isnecessarily complicated and expensive. Furthermore, the known types ofswitchable adaptors are so large that the greater part thereof must bearranged outside of the power distributor track.

The purpose of the invention is to provide an adaptor, of the generaltype mentioned above, which is of simple construction, inexpensive, andmuch smaller in size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved adaptor of the present inventionincludes a selector contact which can be positioned for selectivelymaking contact with different power lines, the selector contact beingconnected to a conducting member for conducting current to the consumingelement. The selector contact is arranged in a rotatable part of theadaptor so as to provide selectively for contact with an upper and/orlower power line on either side of the distributor track channel.

The foregoing solution to the problems of the prior art takes intoconsideration the fact that switching takes place very seldom, in manycases only during initial fitting of the adaptor. This fact haspreviously been overlooked. Known adaptors provide for a simpleselection of a large number of switch positions, but the expenseinvolved in providing an adaptor of such type bears no sensiblerelationship to practical demands. In contrast, the present inventionmakes use of a much simpler principle, but still provides a completelysatisfactory solution to the problems involved. The simple constructionmade possible by the present invention permits, furthermore, a greatsaving in space compared to all known adaptors despite the universalfunction.

The adaptor of the present invention preferably includes means forsecuring the rotatable part of the adaptor in a desired position. Beforethe adaptor is fitted into the track, the rotatable part is arranged ina po sition corresponding to the power line to be used. The adaptor isthen inserted into the channel, rotated into the contact position, andthen screwed firm in a manner similar to that of the known singlecircuit adaptors.

To ensure a good electrical connection to the power line the adaptoremploys blade-like contact, which surrounds a conducting member. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, the blade-like selector contactsurrounds a rod with parallel flat sides. To further ensure a goodelectrical connection between the power lines of the distributor trackand the selector contact, the contact is spring loaded for pressure onthe line. The rotatable part is secured against rotation relative to theneighboring parts and, accordingly, when the adaptor is fitted androtated into position, the rotatable part maintains the selectedposition. The adaptor may be provided with a cap for securing therotatable part. Such a cap could, for example, be screwed to theconducting member which carries the contact blade.

One way of securing the rotatable part against rotation is to providethe rotatable and the neighboring parts with corresponding fittedsurfaces. Such surfaces may, for example, consist of lugs or pins whichfit into corresponding recesses. The adaptor may also include a clampingpart, secured to the adaptor base and arranged for sliding movement,which can be screwed for clamping against the underside of the track ina known manner.

The adaptor is also provided with a contact lug which is spring-loadedoutwardly, for making contact with a grounding line. The ground contactneed not be positionally adjustable since it remains unchanged incontact with the ground line even when different circuits are selected.

The adaptor may be provided with holding elements in the form of lugs,and the opposite sides of the adaptor can be provided with a differentnumber of such lugs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments will bedescribed hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 comprises a longitudinal section through one embodiment of theadaptor;

FIG. 2 is a section through the plane II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section through the plane IIIIII of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a section through the plane IVIV of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a section through the plane Vl-VI of FIG.

FIG. 7 depicts another embodiment of the rotatable part;

FIG. 8 is a section through the plane VII-VII in FIG. 7, showing onlythe contact blade and the conducting element;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the adaptor;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a triple circuit distributor track forthe adaptor;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the adaptor shown in FIG. 9, in thedirection of the arrow X1 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the adpator with cap 14 and rotatable part 13'removed;

FIG. 13 is a section through the second embodiment analogous to FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a section along the plane XIV-XIV of FIG. 13, wherein therotatable part 13' with the contact blade 12' has been rotated throughcompared to FIG. 13, and pushed into the lower position so that thecontact blade 12' and 9' are on the same level;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the adaptor shown in FIG. 13,

FIG. 16 is a section through the rotatable part 13 and tubular extension29;

FIG. 5 is a section through the plane VV of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a plan view from the direction of the arrow XVII in FIG. 16,of the rotatable part 13';

FIG. 18 depicts the upper part of the conductor element 10 with the cap14' removed;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the cap 14;

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the stepped contact blade 12, and

FIG. 21 is a view of the bow-spring 30 for the contact blade 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Similar or analogous parts ofthe different embodiments shown in the drawings are indicated by thesame numerals, but the numerals for the second embodiment are followedby an apostrophe. All embodiments are intended for use with the triplecircuit distributor track shown in FIG. 10. The following discussion isdirected,

. firstly, to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to8:

A ribbed ring 2 is screwed to a cylindrical metal body 1 and carries aclamp member 4 which is moved in a direction parallel to the center line3 when the ring is screwed. The body 1 has holding lugs 5, 6 and 7arranged on opposite sides. The adaptor is fitted by inserting it intothe track of FIG. 10, first with lugs 5, 6 and 7 lengthwise in thechannel of the track, and then rotating it through 90 so that the lugsfasten behind corresponding ribs in the track. The clamp member 4 isthen pressed against the underside of the track by screwing the ring 2,thus securing the adaptor in the desired position. Since opposite sidesof the adaptor are not provided with the same number of lugs, it cannotbe fitted the wrong way round.

A curved grounding lug 19 is screwed or riveted to the metal body 1.Since both the body 1 and the tube 21, which carries the consumerelement, are fabricated of metal, a cable connectionfor the lug 19 isnot necessary.

A plastic insert 8 is provided in the body 1, having channels for afixed contact 9, and for a conducting member 10. In the example of FIGS.1 to 6 the conducting member 10 has an additional part 11 which issurrounded by the arms of a selector contact 12. The selector contact 12is carried in a rotatable part 13 made of plastic. The selector contactis stepped and, by means of a spring 20, is urged against the opposingpower line. The upper part 11 of the conducting member 10 carries a cap14 secured by a spring in the bore 16. Wires l7 and 18 are solderedrespectively to the conducting member 10 and to the fixed contact 9.

In addition to the position in which the selector contact 12 is depictedin FIG. 1, two further positions can be selected. To effect suchselection, the blade of the contact 12 is moved into either of thepositions 12a or 12b shown in dotted lines.

FIGS. 3 to do not show the clamping part 4 (which is depicted in FIG.6). The clamping part 4 has projec tions 22 which fit into the channelof the distributor track. Lugs 23, projecting towards the center, fitinto recesses 24 in the metal body 1. On the underside of the clampingmember 4, lugs are provided which fasten under the shoulder'26 of thering 2.

In the embodiment of the rotatable part shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cap14 is fixed to the conducting member which is situated between theprongs of the selector contact 12. The conducting member 10' has anarrow zone 27 which is so dimensioned that the contact can be rotatedthrough when placed at the height of the narrow zone.

When in use, the rotatable part 13 is situated either with its undersideon top of the insert 8 or with its topside against the cap 14. Apartfrom the position shown in FIG. 7, the contact blade can be set in anyof the positions 12a, 1212 or 12c. A protective cylinder 28 (See FIG. 7)is disposed above the contact blade 12 to eliminate the possibility ofunwanted contact with the conducting part 10 with the rotatable part isin the lower position. A cylindrical extension 29 serves the samepurpose when the rotatable part is in its upper position. An advantageof the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 is that the rotatable part ispermanently attached to the adaptor and thus cannot be mislaid.Projections and recesses may be provided on the rotatable part 13, onthe insert 8, and on the cap 14 for securing the rotatable part in theselected position.

The following discussion is directed to a second embodiment of theinvention, shown in FIGS. 9 and 11 to 21:

The basic construction of this second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13,is similar to that of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment thecap 14' is rigidly fixed to the conducting member 10'; it may bedirectly molded for example. The rotatable part 13 also has a steppedcontact blade 12, which is shown in detail in Flg. 20, fitted thereto.With the aid of the bowspring 30 (see FIG. 21) the contact blade 12 isurged in the direction of the arrow A (see FIG. 9) towards the opposingpower line. The base points 32 and 33 of the bow-spring 30 are supportedon a shoulder 34 of the plastic rotatable part 13'. The bow 35 of thebowspring presses against the step, forcing the contact blade 12radially in the direction of the arrow A. The base zone 36 of the springis in constant contact with the conductor member 10'. The bow-spring,therefore, because of its shape serves two purposes. Firstly, itprovides the necessary contact pressure for the contact blade 12 in thedirection of the arrow A, and secondly, serves to clamp the rotatablepart 13 to the conductor member 10'. The conducting member 10 has upperand lower notches 39 and 40, and a narrow zone 38 in the middle. Thenotches 39 and 40 mark the upper and lower positions of the rotatablepart 13, corresponding to the upper and lower power lines of thedistributor track. The narrow zone 38 permits free rotation of the part13' in the mid-way position between the upper and lower notch positions.When the spring 30 is in the narrow zone 38, the rotatable part 13 canbe turned in the direction desired and then pushed either up or downuntil the base zone of the spring 30 snaps into either the upper or thelower notch 39 or 40.

To secure the rotatable part against rotation when in a lower position,a recess 41 is provided (e.g., see FIG. 14) into which a projection 42,formed on the insert 8', can be located. Rotation when in the upperposition is prevented by the cap 14, the form of which corresponds tothe recess in the top of the rotatable part 13'. The cap (see FIG. 19)has a symmetrical form with flattened sides. The recess 45 in the top ofthe rotatable part is correspondingly round with two parallel flats 44.

The outwardly bent lug of the grounding contact 19 (see FIG. 15) isriveted to the body 1 of the adaptor which is also of metal for example,pressure molded aluminum. This ground connection is intended to makecontact with the ground line 43 of the track 31 (FIG. In general, theconstruction of the adaptor according to FIGS. 9 to 21 is otherwise muchthe same as that of the first embodiment. The clamping part 4 iscircular and not square.

The power track 31 has internally on both sides plastic inserts 31a and31b, each having two power lines. The power lines are flat copper wiresembedded in the plastic inserts. Inwardly, the power lines are open sothat the contact blades 9 (or 9') and 12 (or 12) can make contacttherewith. The power lines are labeled R, S, T and N in FIG. 10. Linesare R, S and T are selectable, and line N is the common line. Thecontact blade 9 (or 9') is in constant contact with the power line N. InFIG. 9 the rotatable part is so arranged that the selector contact willmake contact with power line R. If the rotatable part is turned through180, contact would be made with the power line 8, and if it were thenadjusted to its lower position, it would make contact with power line T.When the adaptor is fitted into place, the contact lug 19 (or 19) is inconstant contact with the safety or ground line 43, which is also ofcopper.

What I claim is:

1. An adaptor for an electrical power distribution track adapted to befitted into the open channel of the said track in a first position andadapted to be rotated to a second position for making electrical contacttherewith, said adaptor comprising spring loaded contact means formaking contact with electrical power lines in said track, holdingelements on said adaptor adapted to be located in recesses provided inthe track, and means for locking the adaptor into position, said adaptorhaving an electrical selector contact which can be variably positionedfor selectively making contact with different power lines in said track,said selector contact being assembled in a rotatable part arranged toselectively provide contact with an upper and/or lower power line oneither side of the distribution track channel, and said selector contactbeing connected in the adaptor to current conducting parts operative toconduct current to the consuming element.

2. The adaptor of claim 1 including means for locking the rotatable partin the selector position.

3. The adaptor of claim 1 wherein said selector contact is a blade-likecontact which surrounds said current conducting parts.

4. The adaptor of claim 3 wherein said blade-like contact surrounds arod having parallel flat sides.

5. The adaptor of claim 1 including spring means for holding theselector contact against the power line of the distribution track byspring pressure.

6. The adaptor of claim 1 including means for locking the rotatable partin position so as to prevent rotation of said part relative toneighboring parts of the adaptor.

7. The adaptor of claim 5 in which said rotatable part and saidneighboring parts are provided with complementarily shaped surfaces toachieve the locking function.

8. The adaptor of claim 1 including a cap for securing the rotatablepart in a desired position.

9. The adaptor of claim 1 in which an outwardly spring-loaded contactlug is provided for making contact with a ground line in said track.

10. The adaptor of claim 1 in which said holding elements comprise aplurality of lugs, the opposite sides of the adaptor being provided withdifferent numbers of such lugs.

11. The adaptor of claim 1 including a clamping part mounted forslidable motion along said adaptor, said clamping part being heldagainst rotation on the base of the adaptor, said clamping part beingarranged to be clamped to the underside of the power distribution track.

12. An adaptor for an electrical power distribution track adapted to befitted into the open channel of the said track in a first position andadapted to be rotated to a second position for making electrical contacttherewith, said adaptor comprising spring loaded contact means formaking contact with electrical power lines in said track, holdingelements on said adaptor adapted to be located in recesses provided inthe track, a clamping part mounted for slidable motion along saidadaptor, said clamping part being held against rotation on the base ofthe adaptor and said clamping part being arranged to he clamped to theunderside of the power distribution track to lock the adaptor intoposition, said adaptor having an electrical selector contact which canbe variably positioned for selectively making contact with differentpower lines in said track, said selector contact being connected in theadaptor to current conducting parts operative to conduct current to theconsuming element.

13. The adaptor of claim 1 including spring means for holding theselector contact against the power line of the distribution track byspring pressure.

14. The adaptor of claim 12 in which an outwardly spring-loaded contactlug is provided for making contact with a ground line in said track.

15. The adaptor of claim 12 in which said holding elements comprise aplurality of lugs, thie opposite sides of the adaptor being providedwith different numbers of such lugs.

16. The adaptor of claim 12 wherein said selector contact is ablade-like contact which surrounds said current conducting parts.

17. The adaptor of claim 16 wherein said blade-like contact surrounds arod having parallel flat sides.

1. An adaptor for an electrical power distribution track adapted to befitted into the open channel of the said track in a first position andadapted to be rotated to a second position for making electrical contacttherewith, said adaptor comprising spring loaded contact means formaking contact with electrical power lines in said track, holdingelements on said adaptor adapted to be located in recesses provided inthe track, and means for locking the adaptor into position, said adaptorhaving an electrical selector contact which can be variably positionedfor selectively making contact with different power lines in said track,said selector contact being assembled in a rotatable part arranged toselectively provide conTact with an upper and/or lower power line oneither side of the distribution track channel, and said selector contactbeing connected in the adaptor to current conducting parts operative toconduct current to the consuming element.
 2. The adaptor of claim 1including means for locking the rotatable part in the selector position.3. The adaptor of claim 1 wherein said selector contact is a blade-likecontact which surrounds said current conducting parts.
 4. The adaptor ofclaim 3 wherein said blade-like contact surrounds a rod having parallelflat sides.
 5. The adaptor of claim 1 including spring means for holdingthe selector contact against the power line of the distribution track byspring pressure.
 6. The adaptor of claim 1 including means for lockingthe rotatable part in position so as to prevent rotation of said partrelative to neighboring parts of the adaptor.
 7. The adaptor of claim 5in which said rotatable part and said neighboring parts are providedwith complementarily shaped surfaces to achieve the locking function. 8.The adaptor of claim 1 including a cap for securing the rotatable partin a desired position.
 9. The adaptor of claim 1 in which an outwardlyspring-loaded contact lug is provided for making contact with a groundline in said track.
 10. The adaptor of claim 1 in which said holdingelements comprise a plurality of lugs, the opposite sides of the adaptorbeing provided with different numbers of such lugs.
 11. The adaptor ofclaim 1 including a clamping part mounted for slidable motion along saidadaptor, said clamping part being held against rotation on the base ofthe adaptor, said clamping part being arranged to be clamped to theunderside of the power distribution track.
 12. An adaptor for anelectrical power distribution track adapted to be fitted into the openchannel of the said track in a first position and adapted to be rotatedto a second position for making electrical contact therewith, saidadaptor comprising spring loaded contact means for making contact withelectrical power lines in said track, holding elements on said adaptoradapted to be located in recesses provided in the track, a clamping partmounted for slidable motion along said adaptor, said clamping part beingheld against rotation on the base of the adaptor and said clamping partbeing arranged to be clamped to the underside of the power distributiontrack to lock the adaptor into position, said adaptor having anelectrical selector contact which can be variably positioned forselectively making contact with different power lines in said track,said selector contact being connected in the adaptor to currentconducting parts operative to conduct current to the consuming element.13. The adaptor of claim 1 including spring means for holding theselector contact against the power line of the distribution track byspring pressure.
 14. The adaptor of claim 12 in which an outwardlyspring-loaded contact lug is provided for making contact with a groundline in said track.
 15. The adaptor of claim 12 in which said holdingelements comprise a plurality of lugs, thie opposite sides of theadaptor being provided with different numbers of such lugs.
 16. Theadaptor of claim 12 wherein said selector contact is a blade-likecontact which surrounds said current conducting parts.
 17. The adaptorof claim 16 wherein said blade-like contact surrounds a rod havingparallel flat sides.